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Evea speaks a lot, Demetrius can say that much. Silence doesn’t exist with her around, as if she can’t fathom the blessing of pure quiet. She will find anything to talk about, from the day’s class to a play-by-play narration of two birds squabbling over a french fry.
“Your pants are too tight,” Evea grouses, readjusting her pants once again. “Get a bigger size.”
“Or,” Demetrius sighs heavily, “just stop stealing my pants.” He flips through his history book in preparation for their upcoming test, rather than paying attention to his aggrieved friend.
Evea pouts. “But I hate the academy-mandated skirts and dresses for girls. So uncomfortable. Your pants are much better.”
“You’re going to get another Tonitrus Bolt from Madame Schlag.”
With a huff, Evea props her chin in her palm. “That old hag won’t catch me again.”
“She’s caught you twice.”
“Third time’s the charm!”
Demetrius shakes his head. “Not the right context-”
“Hey, Demetrius?”
His head picks up at the change of her tone, giving her his full attention. Evea’s demeanor has shifted. Green eyes turn distant, looking out the bay windows of Eden’s library. Soft brown hair frames her pale face, and Demetrius feels the insane urge to run his fingers through it. He must be losing his mind.
“Yes?” Demetrius prompts when she doesn’t speak. Evea’s eyes flick to him, searching for something Demetrius can’t quite figure out.
Her mouth parts briefly, only to close once again when the words fail to come to fruition. Demetrius furrows his brows.
Evea tries again. “I just…” Another pause. She glances at her hands, where she picks at the skin around her fingernails. Such a bad habit. “I wanted to say…”
Demetrius watches her flounder for a moment. “Never seen you so speechless before.”
For that, Evea blinks owlishly at him before breaking into a loud, startled laugh. It erupts from her chest, igniting a jolt of panic in Demetrius. His eyes swivel around the library to see if they’ll be kicked out for the disruption of peace. He tries to shush her, but Evea has already clamped a hand over her mouth, brown hair forming a curtain as her shoulders shake with stifled giggles. Irrationally, Demetrius finds he wouldn’t mind getting kicked out all that much if he gets to hear her laugh like that again. Yes, he’s definitely losing his mind.
“You’re right,” Evea chuckles, wiping tears from her eyes. “Guess it’s not that important,” she decides, then hops into a rant about the new shade of lipstick she wants.
The next day, Demetrius doesn’t see Evea in the halls of Eden. The day after, she doesn’t join him in the library. On the third day, Jeeves drops off a few new pairs of pants to him, a couple sizes larger. Demetrius takes them, but the halls of the Academy are abuzz with the sudden disappearance of Evea Lillian Gordon. Demetrius sits at his desk and fails his history exam.
He never sees Evea again.
His days return to bleak skies and tasteless food. He hates the silence. The madness magnifies in his chest until he falls apart. Damian seeks his attention, but he has nothing left to give. Donovan’s words echo in his head until they dissipate into nothingness. He doesn’t recognize the conflicted expression on Melinda’s face. All that remains are emerald eyes that twinkle in the light. Soft brown hair blowing in the wind. Pink lips pulled back into a bright smile with a laugh that eases his worries.
And Demetrius realizes the most important words are the ones she didn’t say at all.
Goodbye.